I guess now that I'm an old guy I've hit that age where the younger guys look at me like the old bearded guy on the top of the mountain handing out advice. I'm having lunch with one such younger guy right after the New Year. He's just starting out and wants some advice. He did NOT call me an old guy. I just figured that part out myself.
In the spirit of the great list maker (it is Christmas after all)
here's a quick barely-edited list that I came up with in just a short amount of time of contemplating about the advice I would give someone just entering the music/worship ministry. Sorry.... that was way too long and complicated of a sentence. But it's Christmas and I don't feel like editing. Which will be obvious when you see how my list got longer and longer as I wrote.
I'd love to hear what you would add to this list - or delete from this list.
I'm not giving the reasons behind this list as that would make this post even longer and would require more thinking than I'm willing to put in at the moment.
J
And I should mention that prayer and Bible study are a given in this and any other list of how to do your best work for the Kingdom.
Without further ado, here's my quick list.
1. Remember it’s God’s work, not yours
2.
Love people more than you love music
3.
Don’t throw out the old as you add in the new
4.
Be willing to learn from your critics as well as
your friends
5.
Dream big
6.
Plan smart
7.
Work hard
8.
Change is difficult. Let people know the how,
when, why, etc. give advance notice and keep walking them through it
9.
Don’t sacrifice your family for the church.
Ministry opportunities never end. One of your best testimonies is your family
life.
10. Just
because it’s new doesn’t mean it’s good (or bad)
11. Just
because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s good (or bad)
12. Just
because they do it at ______ church doesn’t mean it will work at your church or
that it’s good (or bad)
13. Text
is as important as melody. Worship music has to have good theology.
14. Your
volunteers could be doing a lot of other things. Treat them with kindness, love
and respect.
15. Work
toward excellence, not perfection (there is
a difference)
16. Don’t
wish you were at _______ church, make the one you’re at the one someone else
wishes they were at
17. Don’t
compare yourself to _______ or your church to ________, compare yourself and your
church to what God wants you and your church to be
18. It’s
OK to borrow ideas from others but adapt them to your church and your people
Well, obviously I got on a rolllllllll. What do you think? What did I miss? If you could only give one word of advice, what would it be?
